Messi misses penalty as Bercelona goes down to Espanyol by 1-0
This was Barcelona’s first loss to Espanyol since 2009 and also their first defeat at the hands of their local rivals in the Cup since 1970. The last game they had lost in any competition was in the Spanish Super Cup to Real Madrid on August 16.
FC Barcelona losses to Espanyol by 1-0 after Lionel Messi fails to score a penalty during the Spanish Copa del Rey, quarter-final, the first leg on Wednesday, breaking the unbeaten run of 29 games in all competitions.
Espanyol’s academy graduate Oscar Melendo scored the only goal of the match in the last 88th minute. Messi had his spot-kick turned away by former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez Earlier in the second half.
This was Barcelona’s first loss to Espanyol since 2009 and also their first defeat at the hands of their local rivals in the Cup since 1970. The last game they had lost in any competition was in the Spanish Super Cup to Real Madrid on August 16.
The second leg of the tie at the Nou Camp is on January 25.
Elsewhere, Sevilla battled back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Atletico Madrid as Diego Simeone’s decision to rest number one goalkeeper Jan Oblak in favour of Miguel Angel Moya backfired.
Moya clawed a cross into his own net in the 79th minute to cancel out Diego Costa’s arrowed strike six minutes earlier, while Joaquin Correa struck the winner in the 88th to give under-fire new Sevilla coach Vincenzo Montella a much-needed victory.
Alaves defender Adrian Dieguez was dismissed in the 77th for picking up two bookings in the space of nine minutes, and Valencia striker Rodrigo Moreno took full advantage by shooting off the near post eight minutes from time.
Real Madrid visits Leganes in the other quarter-final first leg on Thursday.